By Jeff Murphy,
September 30, 2015
WARRENSBURG, MO – Marcy Bryant, a University of Central Missouri alumna, who has used
her leadership and communication skills to serve both the Warrensburg community and
the University of Central Missouri, has been named recipient of the 2015 Foster/Inglish
Award for Outstanding Achievement and Service in Public Relations.
The award was created in 2000 to honor achievement and service by members of the university’s
public relations staff. John Inglish, director emeritus of public relations, established
an endowment through the UCM Alumni Foundation the year he retired to honor his longtime
friend and mentor, Carl Foster, who retired as director emeritus of public relations
in 1986 after 19 years of service to the university. Inglish devoted more than 27
years to UCM’s public relations office before he retired.
Bryant becomes the 13th member of the Office of University Relations staff to receive
the award since its inception. The award includes the addition of the recipient’s
name on a plaque, which is displayed in University Relations, Administration 302,
and a monetary prize that is made possible by the endowment.
As a marketing specialist in University Relations, Bryant is part of a team of professionals
who work collaboratively to provide services that include marketing, news, communication,
design, web development, video production and photography to advance the university.
Their goal is to bring a “big picture” perspective to projects and offer proven strategies
that relay information in the most useful and integrated way possible. Bryant contributes
to this process as a writer, editor and marketing advisor, who also assists with promotional
events.
“The Foster/Inglish Award provides a great opportunity to reflect annually on the
work of our staff members to see where strong contributions are being made to benefit
the university. We’re very pleased to recognize Marcy among so many deserving candidates,”
said Kelly Waldram Cramer, interim director of marketing and promotion.
“At a time when University Relations was operating with a smaller staff due to personnel
changes, Marcy was given a number of projects that were outside her typical sphere
of work. She’s accepted every challenge enthusiastically and with great professionalism,
and welcomed the opportunity to learn new skills,” Waldram Cramer said. “As our office
promotes Learning to a Greater Degree, Marcy Bryant provides a working example through
her service to the university and the local community, and she exemplifies what it
means to be a team player.”
In addition to acknowledging her communication abilities, staff members use words
such as “friendly,” “detail-oriented” and “caring” to describe Bryant. In addition
to many contributions to university publications, both printed and online, she played
instrumental roles in planning and executing special events such as the grand opening
of The Crossing – South at Holden, UCM’s new mixed-use student housing and retail
facility. She contributed to the annual Get the Red Out celebration, which was attended
by thousands of campus and community members, and has worked closely with other major
event planners on campus to help meet special communication needs.
Bryant earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Human Resources degree
from UCM in 2003 and is currently working on a Master of Arts in Communication degree.
She resides in Warrensburg with her husband, Jason, and two children.
She came to UCM after serving at previous positions that included marketing supervisor
for the City of Warrensburg Parks and Recreation Department, finance assistant for
the City of Warrensburg, and deputy clerk for the Johnson County Clerk’s Office.
Her engagement in the local community has included serving as past president, vice
president, and treasurer of the Ridge View Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization;
Johnson County CLIMB (Community Leadership and Involvement Mean and Better Community)
member; vice chair of the Johnson County Salvation Army Board; Warrensburg School
District Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Committee; Warrensburg Lions Club member,
and much more.
